Missing six years ago; Vigil's death due to overdosing on brown sugar; buried in swamp by friends

KOZHIKODE: Friends reveal that the body of the man who went missing six years ago was buried in a swamp. The family had filed a complaint with the police, reporting that Vigil (35), a native of Chungam, was missing. Although the investigation conducted by the Elathur police had raised suspicions towards Vigil's friends, further investigation did not lead anywhere. The investigation took a turn when the newly arrived SHO Ranjith KR took over the case on the instructions of City Police Commissioner T Narayanan.

During interrogation, friends revealed that Vigil died after consuming an excessive amount of drugs and that his body was buried in a swamp. The accused are Deepesh, a native of Vengeri, and Nikhil KK, a native of Eranjipalam Vazhathiruthi, Kulangarakkandi. The accused arrested by the police were produced before the Koyilandy Judicial First Class Magistrate Court and remanded. The police have now registered a case under sections such as culpable homicide, destruction of evidence, and disrespect for a dead body. The investigating officers said that after taking the accused into custody, steps will be taken to find the body and conduct further investigation. Elathur SHO Ranjith said that the investigation has been intensified to arrest another friend, Ranjith, a native of Poovattuparamba.

Vigil went missing on March 29, 2019. Vigil, who left home saying, "I'll come now," did not return. Friends told the police that Vigil's death was not a murder but was caused by excessive consumption of drugs. It is said that Vigil had consumed brown sugar in an empty field in Sarovaram. Vigil allegedly overdosed on brown sugar, causing his death. It was Nikhil who injected the drug into Vigil. The statement given to the police is that the accused, who realised that Vigil was dead, tied his body along with stones and buried it in a swamp to destroy evidence.

Close friends

Vigil and the arrested accused were close friends since childhood. After examining the CCTV footage and conducting an investigation focusing on the phone tower, the police found that Vigil had gone with his friends. The investigation based on these clues is what led to the arrest of the accused. The contradictions in the statements of the accused also helped. Further investigation will be conducted in this regard. The police indicate that only then will the facts regarding the death become clear.